Paul Urkijo's new film Alijo, the night, will be in charge of opening the 36th San Sebastian Fantastic and Horror Film Week on October 31st at the Kursaal auditoriumThe event, organized by Donostia Kultura, will bring its main program to the Principal and Victoria Eugenia theaters, as well as other venues in the city.
The contest will take place from 31 from October to 7 from November and the organization has announced a first block of titles from the Official Section, while the full program will be presented in mid-October. The opening gala moves to the Kursaal for the first time, a space that in other editions has hosted specific closings.
The film and its proposal
the night is the third feature film from Urkijo after Blacksmith (2017) and Irati (2022), a milestone in Basque-language cinema at the box office. As in his previous works, the film moves between fantasy and historical substratum, but here it delves into nocturnal Basque mythology with a setting in the 17th century and a staging that mixes rural superstitions, mystery and an epic tone.
Cast and synopsis
The cast includes Yune Nogueiras, Elena Irureta, Ane Gabarain and Iñake Irastorza, alongside Xabi “Jabato” Lopez, Erika Olaizola, Manex Fuchs and Elena Uriz, among other performers. The cast reinforces the local focus and sustains a story full of atmosphere.
Synopsis: In the Basque mountains of the 17th century, and in the midst of a witch hunt, Kattalin runs away from her husband in the middle of the nightLost in the woods, she notices a presence following her until, by the river, she comes across three women washing clothes and sharing scary stories and gossip. The protagonist will end up trapped in those same stories, in a game between legend and reality.
Release, distribution and tour
Before the opening in San Sebastián, the night will have its world premiere at the 58th Sitges Film Festival, within the Official Competition Section. After the festival circuit, the film will be released in Spanish cinemas on November 14th.
Distribution in theaters is in charge of Filmax, which also handles international sales. The production brings together Irusoin, Ikusgarri Films, Vilaüt Films and Gaua AIE, with the participation of 34T and the support of EITB, Prime Video, RTVE, ICAA, the Basque Government, Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council, the Provincial Council of Álava, the Vital Fundazioa Foundation, and CREA SGR. After its run in theaters, it is planned to be available on Prime Video..
Preview of the Official Section
La Semana has announced a series of titles that will compete in the Official Section. Among them, notable international and national proposals that reinforce the fantastic, horror and animation tone typical of the festival, along with a horror film programming which demonstrates the interest in these contents in different formats.
- Dracula: A Love Tale (Luc Besson). Reinterpretation of Bram Stoker's classic.
- Decorated (Alberto Vázquez, Spain-Portugal). Animation about existential crisis, from the director of Unicorn Wars.
- deathstalker (Steve Kostanski, Canada-USA). Remake of the legendary sword and sorcery title produced by Roger Corman.
- The Creeps (Marko Mäkilaakso, Finland). A portal between dimensions unleashes bloodthirsty creatures at a ski resort.
- The Curse (Kenichi Ugana, Japan-Taiwan). Social media and grief intertwine in a disturbing mystery.
- Dog of God (Raitis and Lauris Abele, Latvia-USA). Rotoscoping animation with dark humor, set in the 17th century.
- A useful ghost (Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke, Thailand-France-Singapore-Germany). The deceased wife reappears reincarnated in a Vacuum cleaner.
- NewGroup (Yuta Shimotsu, Japan). Collective unrest in a high school and a disturbing human pyramid.
- OTHER (David Moreau, France-Belgium). Olga Kurylenko plays a woman haunted by a presence that feeds on fear.
- Que ma volonté soit faite (Julia Kowalski, France-Poland). Powers unleashed on a farm and a desire that alters everything.
- Redux Redux (Kevin and Matthew McManus, USA). Revenge across parallel dimensions repeated over and over again.
- The Virgin of the Tosquera (Laura Casabé, Argentina-Mexico-Spain). Adaptation of stories by Mariana Enríquez with a raw look at adolescence.
The organization points out that The full program will be revealed in mid-October, with new additions and detailed schedules.
Dates, venues and tickets
The 36th Fantastic and Horror Film Week will take place from 31 from October to 7 from NovemberIn addition to the Kursaal opening gala, the screenings will be distributed among the theaters Principal and Victoria Eugenia and other spaces in the city.
Selling Subscriptions will start on Thursday, October 23 at 09:00 at the Teatro Principal box office. single tickets will be available from Monday 27nd at 11:30 pm at the Principal and Victoria Eugenia ticket offices and on the Donostia Kultura website. Tickets for the night They can also be purchased at the Kursaal box office and website.
With an opening that focuses on Basque mythology and a programming preview Full of anticipated titles, the Week reaffirms its identity: fantasy, horror and animation in dialogue with the public and the city, and with echoes of the Spanish horror film phenomenon. «Gaua» arrives to light the fuse of an edition with ambition and international pulse.
